KARACHI: The Executive Committee members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Monday demanded immediate announcement of FPCCI annual election schedule 2023
The EC members in a statement expressed their annoyance and concerned on the participation of non- executive committee members in the EC meeting who sabotaged the entire proceedings of the meeting at all stations and also misbehaved with the EC Members.
While passing resolution of early election of FPCCI in the meeting the members lambasted the present office bearers of FPCCI and vehemently condemned them for their illegal means to highjack the apex body which has been ruined financially and to keep their hegemony by illegal and unfair means.
They said that FPCCI is bound by law to announce election schedule and formation of election commission before second half of October every year but the present management of FPCCI is blatantly violating the clear instructions contained in Trade Organization Act 2013 and Trade Organization Rules 2013.
The EC members and the legal experts have declared the present management stands illegal for gross violation of TOA and TOR and called upon the Ministry of Commerce and DGTO to take legal action against the present office bearers who are now no more the true representatives of the business community. The members have also appealed to MoC and DGTO to appoint administrator in FPCCI and conduct the election in their supervision as the present management is illegal.
The Director General Trade Organizations (DGTO) has also called explanation of FPCCI vide letter No 17(21)/2022-TO dated 17-10-2022 for not complying mandatory provision under section 11 of Trade Organization Act (TOR) and Rules 14 and 16 of Trade Organization Rules (TOR). Unfortunately, the present management of FPCCI is bent upon to sabotage the peaceful process of election for their vested interests
The EC members have further appealed to DGTO to hold the free, fair, impartial and transparent election in FPCCI under his supervision and in this regard, the current opposition group UBG leader Malik Sohail Hussain, EC members Niaz Ahmad Niaz, Nadeem Sheikh and others have also submitted applications to the DGTO for the appointment of an administrator in consultation with legal experts.
The members of executive committee from Baluchistan, KP and Islamabad territory have expressed their views on the bill declaring it a tyranny on them as their term in rotation of Presidentship of FPCCI will come after 14 years each.
The legal experts have also expressed their concern and of the view that the implementation of bill without proper homework it will open flood gates of issues. They said the President FPCCI cannot hold office for second term as he has no representative standing on the General Body for next year as the bill addresses the tenure of the office bearers of TO but not the Executive Committee (EC) of TO. They said the bill has gaping lacunas relating to administrative and legislative framework of TO.